Blog Post

Urgent Call to Action

 June 16, 2020 | WHWC

The board of Wesleyan Holiness Women Clergy (WHWC) is committed to diversity and anti-racism born out of our Wesleyan Holiness theology and history. We commit to work towards racial reconciliation at all levels of the church and in our world. In response to current events, we share this urgent call to action from our President.

Signed,
Board of Directors
Wesleyan Holiness Women Clergy

As the first person of color in the role of President of WHWC, I admit to a biased perspective that comes from experiences of life impacted by the color of my skin. However, I believe that in watching people killed before our eyes we all have reached a new realization that the generations of racism have not disappeared with time. Martin Luther King Jr. preached about a dream decades ago before I was born, and that dream may still be unrealized before I die unless we act.

Racism is wrong, and we must stop it!

Really. I mean that you and I need to stop it. Stop willful actions against your neighbor who looks different than you. Stop being indifferent to the plight of others who live at a disadvantage from the systems of racism that are institutionalized into common practices. Stop being complicit in racism through inaction to prevent its propagation.

You can stop it by loving others as you love yourself (Matthew 22:39).

Together we can stop racism by standing up for someone when they need help, by kneeling with someone when they need allies, and by peacefully marching to make sure the call for change is heard. We can stop racism by working through the institutionalized policies and practices of organizations that propagate inequities. We can stop it by learning from and listening to others.

We all need to grow in our appreciation of the racial and ethnic diversity that God created in people.

Jesus convicted the church people of his day by giving us the parable of the Good Samaritan as the outsider who transcended racial boundaries to be the only one to care for the broken and battered person on the street (Luke 10:25-37). Are we going to continue walking by the bodies in the street while we focus on the busyness of the business of church organizations, or are we going to be the church showing God’s love to all?

Continue the conversation on our Facebook post , in your ministries, and at home. Let’s join together and change the world!

Rev. Carron Odokara
WHWC President

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